MONTRÉSOR, FONTRAILLES, et al Manuscript collection.... Lot 37

MONTRÉSOR, FONTRAILLES, et al Manuscript collection. [Seventeenth century]. In-folio, 254 pages, brown granite calf, spine with partitions and fleurons, double gilt fillet framing the boards with gilt coat of arms in the center, edges speckled with red; spine rebound with old caissons preserved, corners restored (period binding). INTRIGUES AGAINST RICHELIEU. Copied after the death of the cardinal-minister, this very interesting collection gathers a part of the pieces found in the Recueil de plusieurs pièces servant à l'histoire moderne, printed at the address of Cologne in 1663, and republished until 1723. They concern the eternal intrigues of Gaston d'Orléans from 1632 to 1637, then his accommodation with Richelieu which allowed his return to the Court shortly before the death of his brother. - MONTRESOR (Claude de Bourdeille de) "Relation de la retraitte de Monsieur en Flandres, sa reception, les intrigues de Cour pendant son séjour et son retour en France". (ff. 1 r°-113 v°). Claude de Bourdeille de Montrésor (1606-1663), Brantôme's grand nephew, played a leading role in most of the conspiracies that were woven around Monsieur against Richelieu, including that of the marquis of Cinq-Mars, Henri de Coëffier de Ruzé d'Effiat, in 1642 (SHF, XVIIe siècle, vol. II, n° 731). - FONTRAILLES (Louis d'Astarac de) "Relation faicte par Mons. de Fonterailles des choses particulierses de la Cour pendant la faveur de Monsieur le Grand" (ff. 114 v°-158 r°). Friend of Montrésor, Louis d'Astarac de Fontrailles (died in 1677) was also an inveterate conspirator, and participated in the plot of Cinq-Mars (SHF, XVIIe siècle, vol. II, n° 764). - VARIOUS MEMOIRS AND LETTERS concerning the plot of Cinq-Mars, addressed by Gaston d'Orléans, Richelieu, the chancellor Séguier, etc. (ff. 159 r°-254 v°). BINDING WITH THE ARMS OF THE DUGUÉ FAMILY (OHR, plate n° 335, iron n° 1). Treasurer of France in Lyon in 1611, François Dugué was then general receiver and payer of the rents of the Hôtel de ville in 1614, then intendant of Lyonnais and Dauphiné in 1666. Also named François, his son (who died in 1688) was president of the Chambre des Comptes de Paris and used the same binding irons as his father. According to a handwritten note pasted on the upper back cover, the copy was part of the library of Abbé Charles d'Orléans de Rothelin (1691-1744). It is indeed listed in the catalog of the sale of the latter, held in 1746, under the number 3761.